Prime Minister Sali Berisha held a meeting with the Prime Minister of Morocco Abdelilah Benkirane in Strasbourg.

PM Berisha said he follows developments and governmental reforms in Morocco that fulfill the needs of the country, as he put it.

Speaking about the friendly relations between the two countries, the prime minister emphasized the need of developing a bilateral relationship in economy, tourism, energy and culture.

PM Berisha discussed with PM Benkirane on the opportunities of bilateral economic cooperation and reiterated the invitation for the Moroccan investors to come to Albania highlighting especially the hydro-energy as the field of interest.

PM Berisha appreciated important setting an agenda of cooperation on fields of interest for the two sides. In this context, PM Berisha invited PM Benkirane for an official visit to Albania.

PM Benkirane thanked PM Berisha for the invitation to visit Albania. He supported PM Berisha’s proposal for an agenda of cooperation so that to strengthen further the fraternal links that exist between the two countries. At the same time, PM Benkirane appreciated highly the practical experience of Albanian transition and said that the state he represents can use it as a learning experience. In this context, he appreciated relations with Albania as very important as the approach between the two peoples will serve better to consolidation of Moroccan democracy.

PM Berisha assured the Moroccan prime minister of Albania stance about recognition of Morocco integrity. Further on, PM Berisha focused on the situation in the region and especially in Kosova and emphasized that the process that has already started there is irreversible. He invited the Moroccan authorities to send envoys to see from very close this new reality. In this context, PM Berisha said that the Albanian authorities would welcome if Moroccan authorities took under consideration the recognition of the new state of Kosova.

The Moroccan prime minister thanked PM Berisha about the integrity issue and promised to consider the request of the Albanian authorities given that it’s a very important subject for the region.

At the end of the meeting, PM Berisha focused on the high-level conference planned to take place in Albania on November 9, on occasion of the Albanian rotating chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe coming to an end.

One of the sessions of this conference will be on the Arab Spring and the contribution Albania can make to the transition in these countries. In this context, PM Berisha invited the Moroccan minister for foreign affairs to attend the conference appreciating that the Council of Europe expertise in issues of consolidation of democracy through its mechanism like: Venice Commission and GRECO would be invaluable for the Arab Spring countries.